UNICEF Hands Over Essential Equipment to Strengthen Zambia’s Community Health Workforce

LUSAKA, Zambia, 19 June 2026 --- UNICEF, today handed over essential service delivery equipment to the Ministry of Health in support of Zambia’s growing cadre of Polyvalent Community-Based Volunteers (PCBVs) at Matero Level 1 Hospital, in Lusaka. The handover marks a significant milestone in strengthening community level primary health care and advancing Zambia’s efforts toward universal health coverage.

As part of the Community Health Workforce Development Programme, 5,000 PCBVs will receive critical equipment—including Blood Pressure monitors (BP), thermometers, protective clothing, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tapes, smartphones, calculators and flashlights - valued at USD 620,000 (ZMW11,374,520.00). These items will enhance their capacity to deliver quality primary health services, especially in underserved rural communities.

Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. George Sinyangwe, the Permanent Secretary for Donor Coordination, commended the partnership for its strategic support to community health systems. “The Ministry of Health is deeply grateful for this continued collaboration with UNICEF and the Mastercard Foundation. The equipment being handed over today is not merely material support, it is an investment in the health of our communities. Polyvalent Community-Based Volunteers are the backbone of primary health care in Zambia, and strengthening their capacity remains a top priority. This contribution significantly enhances our efforts to bring health services closer to the people and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage,” he said

To date, the Community Health Workforce Development Programme has trained and deployed 5,433 PCBVs across all 10 provinces of Zambia, while also enhancing the supervisory capacity of Community Health Assistants. The programme contributes directly to the National Health Strategic Plan and aligns government priorities to strengthen community health systems as a foundation of primary care.

UNICEF Zambia Chief of Health, Dr. Atnafu Getachew, reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to strengthening primary health systems. “Community health workers are the backbone of health service delivery for women and children in the most underserved communities. With the support of the Mastercard Foundation, we are equipping them with the essential tools they need to provide timely, life-saving care — from thermometers for early diagnosis of fever in children to blood pressure monitors for detecting pregnancy-related complications. These are simple but critical enablers that allow for early identification and referral, and that can make the difference between life and death. This partnership is a testament to what becomes possible when we invest in frontline health workers and build health systems that are resilient, inclusive, and that reach every woman and child — no matter where they live.”

The Zambia programme is part of a wider effort across 13 African countries to support dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for 500,000 predominantly young community health workers, with 70 per cent expected to be women aged 18–35. The initiative includes:

• Training and deployment of new Community Health Workers.
• Strengthening and digital enablement of primary health care systems.
• Gender-responsive training approaches.
• Opportunities for health entrepreneurship.

This multi‑pronged approach aims to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes, reduce preventable mortality, and accelerate progress toward SDG targets.

UNICEF and the Ministry of Health reaffirm their commitment to continued collaboration to strengthen primary health care and ensure that every community in Zambia has access to essential health services.

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For further information, please contact:

Mwenya Mfula, Communication Officer, Ministry of Health, [email protected]